European Researchers’ Night was organized for the first time in Heidelberg and Mannheim in 2018 and again in 2019. We aimed to make as many people as possible aware of the NIGHT. We started our work with the development of a unified communication campaign, which addressed the areas of diversity in science, careers in science, European collaborations, art and culture, environment and sustainable development, medicine, astronomy and physics. Project partners worked in very close collaboration to establish the new brand for the NIGHT. Our awareness campaign aimed to reach the public at large, focusing on children and young people. The German title of the event was: Nacht der Forschung Heidelberg I Mannheim 2018. The English title of the event was: Researchers’ Night Heidelberg I Mannheim 2018 or 2019. Each partner had direct access to all digital and user information regarding the project visuals, and online and offline communication tools. We developed a beautiful artwork for the NIGHT. Our overall PR campaign from the 2 NIGHTs led to 11 press releases, 7 TV contributions and 85 different print media features. We ran radio spots in 2018 and 2019 as well. The project online publication was based on the project website and social media channels. The website was launched in July, 2018 and it is available under:
https://www.nacht-der-forschung-heidelberg.de(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). It contains all the necessary information about the event in German and English. During European Researchers’ Night in 2018, we offered 149 different activities at 16 venues in Heidelberg and one venue in Mannheim. In 2019 our partnership grew by 50% as 5 new associate partners joined the project and opened their institute doors to welcome visitors. In 2019 we offered 148 activities in 16 venues in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Eppelheim. The activities covered the topic areas of astronomy, culture and art, educational sciences, geography, gerontology, medical research, molecular biology, physics, biodiversity, microbiology, robotics and technological heritage and were offered for the public at large, regardless of age and scientific background. The activities invited visitors to explore science through direct interactions with researchers in an entertaining and engaging way. The content was very diverse, dynamic, interactive and multidisciplinary. In 2018 we had 599 volunteers and in 2019 we had 874 volunteers who engaged, inspired and educated the visitors during the event. Of these 1473 (not unique as there were volunteers who participated in both years) volunteers, 739 were female and 734 were male which ensured gender balanced representation. Our venues included research institutes, universities, hospital buildings, a science museum, cultural hubs and event locations, educational facilities and a botanical garden. The venues were a balanced combination between spaces that were already known for the public and spaces that had opened their doors only for this special occasion. Some of the venues offered “behind-the-scenes” insights to visitors including research and clinical facilities, molecular biology training labs and arts workshops. The main public square in Heidelberg was used as a venue for 3 PR events.
In both 2018 and 2019 we had keynote talks, different types of guided tours, exhibitions, information booths, various and types of numerous hands-on experimentations, different performances, games and workshops. Every visitor could easily find an inviting access point to our NIGHT.
